Councilman Jose Huizar Not Drunk When He Crashed Car In Boyle Heights

Councilman Jose Huizar was not drunk when he crashed his Toyota Highlander in Boyle Heights last night, according to the LAPD.

Huizar was at the intersection of 1st Street and Boyle Avenue when he was involved in a three-car accident about 6:30 p.m., said LAPD Det. Gus Villanueva.

Huizar was given a field sobriety test. "He definitely passed," said LAPD PIO Venus Hall. "He was very cooperative."

One person complained of a minor injury, and was seen by paramedics and released.

Rick Coca, Huizar's spokesman, issued the following statements:

"Councilmember Huizar was involved in a minor traffic accident this evening near 1st and Boyle near his home in Boyle Heights. LAPD gave the Councilmember a DUI sobriety test, which of course he passed. The Councilmember is glad that nobody was seriously injured."

"I can confirm that three cars were involved and the Councilmember was given a breathalyzer test, which registered a zero."

Just Diet 7-Up for that guy, apparently.

Update, 12:49 p.m.: It's still not clear who was at fault in this crash. Det. Josephine Mapson, of the LAPD Central Traffic Division, said that her office is "not giving out any statements at all."

Mapson referred all questions to Huizar's council office -- which is probably not a courtesy she would extend to a regular person in similar circumstances.

Update: 6 p.m.: LAPD and Huizar's office have still refused to provide the most basic details on this incident -- such as who hit whom, how fast they were going, whether the driver was texting, etc.

Cmdr. Andrew Smith, of the LAPD's media relations division, said that the accident report "has to go through a whole bunch of levels of review" before detectives can determine who is at fault, which could take a few days.

Det. Villanueva, meanwhile, said the LAPD does not release details on non-fatal accidents, which is, to put it mildly, not true.

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